Nikola Jokic is off to a historic start in his eleventh NBA season. 16 games into the regular season, the all-time great center is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, and assists while shooting at a staggering efficiency.
Jokic has one of his best supporting casts around him, which makes the Denver Nuggets, on paper, the most significant threat to an Oklahoma City Thunder repeat.
So far, that projection looks accurate. David Adelman’s team is now 12-4 and has already recorded several impressive wins this season. And that start is primarily thanks to their franchise GOAT, who is the early favorite for league MVP.
Nikola Jokic 2025-26 Stats
Category
Stats
Games
16
Points per game
30.4
Assists per game
10.8
Rebounds per game
13.0
Steals per game
1.6
Blocks per game
0.8
Field Goal %
62.8%
Three Point %
41.8%
Jokic is already one of the greatest players in NBA history, and he doesn’t look like giving up his title of ” best player in the world” anytime soon, at age 30.
Still, there are plenty of formidable stars, especially big men, ascending the league hierarchy. Jokic is undoubtedly aware of this, and the Nuggets’ legend recently made an eye-opening statement on a young center who most reminds him of himself.
And this 20-year-old Baltimore native has just begun his NBA journey.
Nikola Jokic gave a shoutout to a promising NBA rookie
The Denver Nuggets have been in plenty of close games over the past weeks, including a surprising recent one against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Pelicans have had a disastrous 2025-26 season so far, summed up by the franchise’s decision to fire head coach Willie Green already.
New Orleans, however, was competitive at home last Wednesday against the Western Conference giants, thanks mainly to rookie center Derik Queen.
The former Maryland standout surprisingly went toe-to-toe with Jokic, scoring a career-high 30 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Queen’s game has drawn comparisons to Jokic’s because of their slow-burn style, which relies on pace, patience, and craft in the post rather than athleticism to create clean looks.
In the postgame of his team’s 125-118 win, Jokic praised the rookie big man, while also noting how he understands the comparisons between the two.
“He (Queen) was really good tonight. He shot the ball well, and he was playing downhill, especially in those splits where he found himself open…he’s good, he has some moves, definitely crafty, he’s unorthodox, great touch around the rim, feel for the game. It’s good to see somebody different. I’m a little bit taller, but I think with his style, I can see it.
Derik Queen has had a stellar rookie season so far
The New Orleans Pelicans’ 2-15 record is even more disappointing when considering the expectations this roster had heading into this year.
With players like Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Jordan Poole on the roster and a pool of young talent, New Orleans was expected to at least contend for a Play-In spot this season.
Two players who have lived up to those expectations, however, have been rookie guard Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen.
While the Pelicans selected these freshman stars with the No. 7 and No. 13 overall picks, a little more pressure has been put on Queen’s shoulders because of a bold decision by Joe Dumars, the Pelicans’ new president of basketball operations.
During the 2025 NBA Draft, New Orleans traded its No. 23 overall pick in the 2025 draft and an unprotected 2026 first-round draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 13 overall pick. Where things stand right now, the unprotected selection has a chance to be the No. 1 overall pick in a loaded 2026 draft.
Queen will likely be compared to whoever this player turns out to be on the Hawks for much of his career, but the 2025 Big Ten Freshman of the Year is off to a terrific start.
Derik Queen 2025-26 Stats
Category
Stats
Games
17
Points per game
12.6
Assists per game
3.2
Rebounds per game
6.6
Steals per game
1.1
Blocks per game
0.8
Field Goal %
48.8%
Three Point %
12.5%
Queen was flattered by Jokic’s comments in his response, and the Pelicans’ rookie can take a page or two out of the Serbian superstar’s book when it comes to outperforming expectations.
“I mean, it feels good. He’s gonna be a Hall of Famer, three-time MVP, NBA champion. Coming from him, it means a lot. I don’t know if he gives out a lot of compliments, but definitely coming from one of the greatest means a lot.”
Overall, regardless of how they got here, the Pelicans have a young talent with the potential to become one of the best centers in the league. We’re seeing other modern-day bigs, outside of even Jokic, embrace the point-center archetype on their teams and thriving at the highest level.
Alperen Sengün is a prime example of this trend, and Queen could be next in line.
